Pink Paper Peppermints ♥ Life is Sweet ♥

brrr & paper & embroidery & a little Christmas shame

 

 The view out my kitchen window yesterday morning.

~

Seven on Wednesday  

(or something that sounds clever and involves some sort of alliteration)

 

One

  

{that's me trying to impersonate Susan Branch...not happenin'...but it's fun to try.}

 

Two

It is entirely too cold here in Texas. 

I think winter may have lost it's way.  I'd like to hand it a map back to Wisconsin.

"Here you go little winter.  I think your mama is looking for you.  Scurry on back up north now, k?"

Three

I've been working on some Valentines day ideas.

I bought some doilies and made a little "10 things I love about you" mini book for my sweetheart. 

Still have to finish it, but I thought I'd show you how I put it together in case you'd like to make one.

I'll be posting the how-to later this week.

Four

I'm also working on some embroidery ideas.  I've had a magnet for years that says "10 things God wants you to remember."  It's always encouraged me. I actually posted the text from it awhile back.

I was thinking it would be so cool to do an embroidery sampler of a different thing God wants us to remember each month to practice some stitches. So I sketched out some ideas.

 

I had to add a couple of things to make enough for 12 months and I changed a couple and added scriptures.  I'm still working on it but I've already made my own pattern for January and started stitching it! 

I thought I'd share that with you too.  Maybe one each month and we can learn embroidery together! 

And those of you who know embroidery could maybe help us along! What do you think?

 

 

Five

I often get questions about how I achieve certain effects on my photos.  I use a combination of things, but recently I found a fun site called Be Funky. 

Here is a before and after of the window photo above. 

   

 

The first one is the original photo.  The second is the one I edited in Be Funky.  I used the "Vintage Colors" effect.

Give yourself time if you go over there...you won't be able to stop playing!

 

Six

I  have a pile of Christmas stuff *still* sitting in the corner of the living room waiting to be packed away. 

I think by posting this here I might shame myself into finally doing it today. 

I'm not sure though because I'm getting quite comfortable with you as friends and sort of think you wouldn't judge me at all for it so I may need a new strategy....wanna come over and help me?

Seven

This post is really just a creative way of saying, "I have a lot to show you that isn't ready yet."  heh-heh.

 
Hope you are staying warm.  We are off to a homeschool group day.

Grace & Peace

♥ Melissa~

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"Let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't." -Romans 12:6

two monkeys and a yo-yo

Random thoughts so far this year:

ONE

For some reason when January comes around each year, it is so hard for me to get back into the routines I had before Christmas.  I have this sort of hazy-fog-of-an-idea of what I had been doing before Thanksgiving came. 

You know like when you walk into a room for something but on the way to the room you start thinking about something else so that by the time you *get* to the room you're standing in the doorway saying...."now what did I come in here for?"....

{other people do that right?}

I'm standing in February saying, "now what did I come in here for?"  This may or may not be the reason you haven't seen me in awhile.  Just sayin'.

TWO

This is interesting.  It's called Typealyzer and analyzes your personality based on what you write on your blog or rather the personality of your blog.

Here's mine:

ESFP - The Performers [ESFP]

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

Pretty acurate I think except for the "tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation" part, but I think that is an anomaly in my personality (one that I'm trying to get rid of actually). 

What's your blog's type?

THREE

The snack of chocolate milk and cinnamon toast mixed with a little prayer can make a bad day seem not so bad after all.

FOUR

I *knew* Jin was still alive.

FIVE

If you need some last minute ideas for Valentines day The Crafty Crow has a marvelous array of them (and I'm not just saying that because I happen to be featured...*cough*).

SIX

I personally am completely unprepared for heart day tomorrow having let it sneak up on me while I was standing in February trying to remember what I came in here for. 

SEVEN

I think that's enough for now.  Life off my computer is quite busy these days with church activities and homeschool activities and house cleaning and organizing.

{actually the last one is just hopeful thinking...heh-heh}

I'll be around (Lord willing), just not quite as often for a little while. 

I hope you're all having a wonderful start to this new year.  Thanks for the encouraging emails as well as pokes & prods to get back here.

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."
-1 Peter 4:8

ten on tuesday

ten random thoughts on tuesday (on thursday)

*I'm thinking maybe I should change the name to just "time for ten" or something, huh?*

one
Remember this post? and this one?  According to sitemeter I had visitors from Fannie Mae and Target Corporation on those two days.  Weird, huh?

two
I think it is time to give up the ghost on these little turkey candlestick holders, what do you think?

I love them so much because they were some of the first holiday decorations I ever bought when I was first married.  I have such a warm feeling and fond memories when I look at them.

Well, I did until they became headless and tail-less.

I think the head may be rolling around in the thanksgiving box somewhere. 

Maybe I'll glue it back on and give them one more year.

three
I was right about the candy problem.  Right now there are three different bags of candy in the kitchen. 

The orange slices are calling my name.

four
Sometimes when I pray I think I must sound like a five year old little girl to the Lord.  I can just manage to get out, "oh please, oh please, oh pleeeeeasseee Lord."  

I don't think He minds though.  He did say we're supposed to come as little children.

five
I'm not telling you what the above prayer was in reference to.

six
I've been working on a really fun project this week.  I'm a member of the Christian Paper Artists group and every couple of years, 52 of us get together and design a deck of cards around a scriptural theme.

Last time the theme was "proverbs".  Here's my card from that deck:

The edges are square when we send them in, but the card company prints them on rounded cards. 

The deck came out so, so pretty last time.  52 little works of art.

seven
This year the theme was love.  I chose Romans 8:39 as my scripture.  One of my favorites:

I printed the scripture on the back of a pink ticket. I have to say I was pretty excited when it worked without jamming up my printer...heh-heh.

eight
We also vote on our favorites for the back of the card.  I entered this design:

It's a compilation of all the love scriptures that everyone chose.  Just reading those all in a row will bless your socks off!

nine
If you're interested in purchasing a deck of these cards let me know and I will get you in touch with our group leader.  She's taking orders right now.  I gave some out for Christmas last time and they were a big hit.

ten
Finally here is a fun freebie for crafty types and homeschoolers! 



DJ Inkers is giving away a "Vote 2008" set of clip art and borders!  One of the sheets would make a great notebooking page. 

Here's the link:

DJ Inkers Freebie

Hope you're all having a blessed week.

Grace and Peace,

♥ Melissa~
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
-Romans 8:38-39

so where were we?

It's a beautiful, crisp fall day outside; my boys are finally humming along in their new learning routines and I have received what must be the millionth (though probably just the ninth or tenth) guilt-inducing (and very sweet) email inquiring about my well-being.  So I thought I had better get to posting again.

Thus:

Tuesday Ten Returns in Triumph (with an extra three and photos no less!)

*posted on Saturday for old times sake*

one

I could go the rest of my whole life without hearing the names fannie mae and freddie mac *ever again*, how about you?

two

I wish the phone book people would stop leaving their 5 lbs of instant garbage on my doorstep. 

Seriously, phone book people...have you heard of the internet? Save a tree why don't you?

On second thought, maybe I should do this with it.  heh. heh.  pure marketing genius.

three

I'm teaching kindergarten and high school this year.

four

My head hurts a lot because of number 3.

five

I'm wondering why every time I blink it's almost Christmas again.

six

I'm so appreciative of all of you who have written and left comments inquiring about my demise.

seven

The rumors of number six have been greatly exaggerated.

eight

Socialism seems to be making a comeback.

nine

My head hurts a lot because of number 8.

ten

Here's a question, has anyone read Animal Farm lately???

(If you haven't  click here and read it for free.  I have no doubt you'll find it enlightening.)

eleven

I've been thinking about starting a bakery business because obviously I have nothing else to do with my time.

Plus I have some recipes for cakes, muffins and cookies that people offer me large sums of money to bake for them. (really...huge sums....)

twelve

And I figure, as long as I don't make more than $250,000 a year I should be super successful, huh?

Ok, sorry.  I'll drop the politics now. 

*think crafty*

thirteen

I've learned how to crochet!  Oh my gosh, so fun!  I'm just at the beginning stages, but I am *crazy* about yarn now! (just what I need a new crafty supply to hoard!)

Some of my flickr crochet faves:

 

1. Crocheted blanket halfway done!, 2. Pink and white granny, 3. sweet peas, 4. crocheted ripple blanket, 5. Mitten edging, 6. Irish crochet necklace, 7. Multi-colour Moebius, 8. Crochet baby blanket, 9. Crochet flowers, 10. Crochet tea cups, 11. crochet bottle cover - detail, 12. Colorfull Cushion, 13. now comes the oh so enjoyable task, 14. Aqua red Crochet, 15. wool crochet flowers, 16. colored crochet, 17. Crochet Bird, 18. Crochet Flower Garland, 19. Crocheted Ripple Throw, 20. My favorite crochet rug, 21. crocheted heart valentines card, 22. Granny triangle blanket wip, 23. crochet scarf, 24. longer trousers

fourteen

I used these free online lessons at Crafty Daisies combined with looking up video tutorials on youtube for stitches about which I was confused.

It took me quite a few squares that came out completely crooked and strange before I figured it out, but I think I'm getting the hang of it now. 

I'm making a pink & white (of course) afghan for my first project. These are the squares I've finished so far, all stacked up & pretty.

Look at this texture!  Isn't it wonderful?  I can't wait to curl up under this with a good book.

 

If you haven't tried crochet before you really should.  It's so easy once you get the hang of it and very relaxing.

Okay that's my ten fourteen...Hope you're having a fantastic weekend! 

Thanks again for all the sweet emails.

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~

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"Jesus said to them, 'Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me.' "
-John 14: 1

ten on tuesday - let's talk crafty

ten cRaFtY thoughts on tuesday

(wednesday morning - but it's still tuesday somewhere isn't it?)

one

Well, first of all I'm pretty excited to have been featured as an "Honorary Cr8tv Diva" at Cr8 Everyday Crafts! 

The interview was actually done a while ago and went live while we were on vacation so I haven't had a chance to mention it until now!

If you haven't joined Cr8 Everyday Crafts yet you should!  It is one fun and crafty place to hang out.  There are tons of how-to videos and lots of crafty eye candy plus so many other crafty "peeps" to chat with!

Visit Cr8 Everyday Crafts

You can read my interview and tell me how dorky I sound here.

two

Another crafty thing that happened while we were on vacation was that I discovered the podcast CraftSanity by Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood. 

I downloaded *every* episode before we left and listened to hours and hours of them on the long drive to Wisconsin and back.

It is so much fun to listen to my favorite crafty bloggers talk about how they got crafty and what they are up to now.  Crafters and Artists like Emily Martin, Amy Carrol, Amanda Blake Soule, Claudine Hellmuth and more!

And I just *love* Jennifer.  She always asks the best questions - some that I never would've thought of and always the exact questions I was thinking at the moment! 

If you haven't listened to Craftsanity yet then head over there now and start downloading!

And Jennifer if you're reading this, thanks for helping me keep *my* sanity for 36 hours in the car with three boys!

three

Wordle is my new favorite online/crafty thing to play with. 

oh. my. goodness. 

If you are a visual person and like playing with words then you are going to *love* Wordle.

In fact I feel bad telling you about it because you probably won't get anything else done for the rest of the time you're online now!  (but hey finish reading my blog first, k? heh-heh)

You can play with words a few different ways.  One is to just plug your blog address in (what I did above) and you'll see what you talk about most.  The larger the words the more those words appear in your blog.

I apparently say "just" and "really" way too much and O-man was mildly disturbed that "paper" was the same size as "God". 

I do like paper.

I was puzzled by the words "butter" and "toast" showing up as large as they did.  Do I talk about toast and butter a lot?? 

I do like butter.

You can also just put whatever words you want in to create a neat art piece.  I can't wait to play with this. I'm going to try all of our family's names.

You can experiment with different colors and backgrounds and changing the maximum word count changes the way it looks as well.

four

Here are some others I created (click on them to see them larger):

I put all the names of Jesus in for this one:

Crafty Words:

Cooking words:

As you can see Wordle can be dangerous but oh so fun! 

If you make one, leave me a comment with the link so I can see it!  I know there are a thousand more creative things that could be done with this cool tool!

five

One of the highlights of the trip for me was when I walked into the library of a tiny town in Wisconsin and saw a sign on a table of books that said, "Free to a good home".

I glanced at it casually and didn't really see anything that caught my eye at first and then suddenly there it was, a giant collection of crafty magazines from the seventies!

six
It was huge and covered and dust and just calling my name.  I was so excited.  You should see all the wonderful photos in these magazines.

And the kitschy craftiness! It's heaven!

Actually you will be seeing them, because I'm going to be posting them in the weeks to come, they are just too good not to share.

seven

Again I have to apologize to you (and possibly your neglected children-heh-heh) in advance for the following links.

I found two great blogs that are nothing but craft tutorials!  Can you imagine? 

Well you don't have to!  Just click on over!

Craft Tutorials

30 Handmade Days

eight

Love this one!  It's a search engine just for crafty blogs!

nine

A sneak peek of something I'm working on:

(any guess as to what it is?)

A little sign I made (inspired by a greeting card) to hang on the fridge and remind me of my blessings.

 

Remember those ad magnets?  I just glued one to the back of this.  I think it would help if you mounted your sign on chipboard first for stability.

The scripture is Psalm 124:7 and says,

"My soul escaped like a bird, out of the snare of the fowler."

We used to sing a song with those words in Bible school that I just adored.

I love how poetic the Bible is...an escaped soul is such a beautiful picture.  I want to do more art with that...

ten

It's very hard to blog about crafty things where you have to insert links because

when you go to get the links

you get very distracted

by the new crafty things.

very.

distracted.

I actually started this blog post yesterday.

God's Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"She loves to work with her hands..."
-Proverbs 31:13 (NIRV)

ten on tuesday {vacation edition}

 So it's finally time to get back to ten on tuesday!  I can't guarantee how fun this is gonna be though because it's midnight and I've been in the car for four days. (well, ok, not really but it feels like it)

one
It takes ten hours to drive from Dallas to St. Louis.  13 hours if you make your family stop at "The World's Largest Gift Shop".  

 
two

This picture is not the gift shop because I couldn't find a picture of it and didn't think to take one.  This picture is the "world's largest basket" which I thought was funny. (It's the Longaberger headquarters...isn't that funny and so super creative? I love it!)

three

We stopped in St. Louis for a night to rest before heading to Chicago.  I got to visit the coolest art paper & stamp store ever called Red Lead. 

four
I took some photos, but haven't been able to download them yet.  Here's one from their site and I'll put mine up later this week.

five
Isn't if gorgeous?  If you live in St. Louis you are *lucccckkkeeeee* to get to shop here. It is so inspiring!  Take a peek at the fabulous shop and blog for lots of yummy crafty goodness!

six
We are in Chicago now.  Our hotel "ran out" of non-smoking rooms so we are in a stinky room until tomorrow.  We have all the windows open and fans going and I'm sucking on peppermints to keep the smell from gagging me, but other than that it's great.

seven
The next couple of days we'll be headed to museums, Navy Pier, Little Italy and Chinatown!  I can't wait to take lots of pictures!

eight
After that we are on our way to Wisconsin to spend time with the O-fam.  Looking forward to a nice relaxing week of doing nothing!

nine
I will try to stop in here and post once or twice though.  Especially if anything crafty happens...heh-heh.

ten

That was my lamest ten on tuesday ever, but it's 1:12 am now and it's smokey in here!

Grace & Peace,

Melissa~
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings...soul..."
-Psalm 116:6-8

ten on tuesday - austin edition

ten random thoughts on tuesday - this week from austin, tx!

one

Our hotel has sleep number beds. At first I thought it would be great to be able to try them.
I was wrong. They are like giant, expensive blow up mattresses.  I'm not kidding.

When my husband gets up I sink a little.  And when you adjust the "number" it sounds like a vaccum
cleaner!  I am officially not a fan of sleep number beds.

two

We saw the bats a little bit last night.  They didn't come out until moments before it got
dark and then they were on the other side of the bridge from where we were so they were
really just tiny little black dots in the dark. 

three

But it was astonishing how many of them there were!  (In truth it made me kinda *glad* they were on the other side of the bridge from us-don't tell the boys.)  I think we're going to try and see them again tonight though so I may get up close and personal with one of the furry ones yet.

four

Our hotel has a coffee maker in the room which is nice for that first cup when you're not
ready to face the world.  They have a little tray with coffee cups, packets of
coffee and packets with stirrers, napkins and what they consider coffee condiments.

five

One thing I've never understood about hotels who have these little packets is that inside the packet there is *one* package of sugar and *one* package of powdered *gag* creamer.

ONE. 

Who uses *one* package of sugar and creamer?? 

They may as well just put a *picture* of sugar and creamer in that packet.

six

Speaking of gross packets of things (don't worry it's not as bad as it seems).  We had supper at El Arroyos yesterday.  I guess it's a "first-night-in-Austin" tradition

We sat on the patio and it was beautiful, but the birds were kind of maniacs.  They kept flying in and landing on empty tables to scavenge what was there. 

seven

One of them actually got a packet of sweet & low and *opened it* and ate it!!  (Doesn't he know how bad that stuff is for you??)  I have a photo, but I forgot to bring the card reader down here to the lobby with me. *ugh*  I'll post it later.

eight

Little-O and Daddy-O went for a swim yesterday afternoon.  Last night as we were getting
ready to go to bed (on our *awesome* sleep number pool floaties beds), Little-O tells us
he has an idea.

Little-O:  "You know how we do story time and brush teeth time and snuggle time before sweep(sleep) time at home?" 

Mama-O: Yes? 

Little-O: Well I fought of anudder thing to do while we are here.

Mama-O: Oh? What is it? 

Little-O: "Swim time! We can just go for a yittle swim before bed."

Mama *and* Daddy-O: Oh...Uh...um...

We stumbled around and came up with the fact that the pool was closed at night, "but great idea sweetie!"

nine

The April heART & Soul ezine is ready!  Lots of fun birdie links and stuff. Plus a cool birdie, spiral mobile with pattern!  I hope to get it uploaded tonight.  Go sign up so you'll be the first to get it in your inbox!

ten

Here is a little sneak peek:

Click the button in the left sidebar that says "heART & soul ezine" to subscribe and get *free* paper goodness delivered to your email box (about) once a month!

Grace and Peace,

♥ M~
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"Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to Him than birds."
-Matthew 6:26

ten on tuesday - art and paper and the you-know-who

ten random thoughts on tuesday

one

Happy Earth Day! 

Thank you Lord for this amazing place you created for us.  Please help us to be better stewards of it while bringing glory to Your name. amen.

two

I realize you are all probably tired of hearing about the dentist (thank you so much for your well-wishes and commiserating by the way) but I have one more visit this week that will involve "a little pressure" as the dentist likes to call it and some more heavy medication.  In the meantime I have a short:

Floss your teeth people.   I'm just sayin'.  Floss.

three

Remember this post about the artwork I experimented with by one of my favorite artists Claudine Hellmuth? 

I really wanted to try and not be a big, gigantic goober about this, but it appears I have no control over that so I have to tell you that Claudine commented on my post! 

Isn't that cool?  (I really hope she doesn't read this and realize what a goober I am)

four

Yesterday when I got home from the dentist and was feeling really yucky I got the best package in the mail from one of my bloggy friends.

It just couldn't have come at a better time and it makes me smile how God uses people in your life to do small, sweet things for you.

The very generous package included a beautiful handmade card and was filled with goodies from another one of my all time favorite artists Jenni Bowlin.

What an incredible treat it was to open that package (which was wrapped in gingham ribbon!!) and see all those lovely, papery things.  Thank you so much Tammy!

six

It's been forever since I've done any impulse art so I thought I'd try it this morning with my new goodies. 

I just love the scripture in Hebrews 4:12 that says,

"For the Word of God is alive and active and sharper than a double-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, joint and marrow and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

seven

I am currently enamored with spelling numbers, graph paper, circus fonts, paper lanterns and of course flowers. You might notice some of those in my collage.

I really love the way numbers look when you spell them and it seems to help me memorize scripture references when I see the numbers spelled out.

eight

In case you were wondering I am still working on  the April edition of the HeART & Soul ezine.  It's a little delayed because of the visit to the you-know-who (trying not to mention it again) but it's going to be lots of fun, the theme is one of my favorites, Birdies!

nine

The you-know-who is getting blamed for this too. My lack of Fitness Friday fitness. *sigh*  Oh well, try again next week I guess (I did do the stair stepper twice last week though and drank lots of water for what it's worth).

ten

My hubby brought me a big basket of red geraniums over the weekend.  I just love red geraniums.  Aren't they beautiful?

When I went to the quilt show I found this fantastic company, My Sampler, that sells embroidery kits that are so sweet. 

They have one that I really want to do for my kitchen called, (what else?) Red Geraniums.

Actually, I want to do them all, especially the scripture ones, they are so cute!

Hey, that's ten already!  Be sure and comment on my giveaway post for a chance to win some goodies!

♥ M~

---------------------------------------------------
"...for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!"
-Matthew 6:8

tuesday ten - well ain't she miss betty lightbulb?

ten random thoughts on tuesday {hey, it's actually tuesday}

one

Apparently I don't know what it feels like to smile anymore.

The other day I looked over at hubby *thinking* I was smiling at him. 

He looks back at me,  raises his eyebrows and says, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I say, "...just smiling at you"

"Oh...I think you forgot to smile while you were smiling at me."

Nice. 

two

I leave toast in the toaster a lot.  Does anyone else do that?  In the morning sometimes I'll realize I haven't eaten anything and put some toast in the toaster and then go and try and get something done while it's toasting and *completely* forget about it. 

three

Hours later I'll walk through the kitchen thinking, "Why am I so hungry, I *had* toast earlier", only to see the toast languishing away in the toaster, uneaten. (I really wanted to use the word "languish" there, could you tell?)

four

I recently read this quote by Charles Spurgeon and I just love it.

"You are as much serving God in looking after your own children, and training them up in God's fear, and minding the house, and making your household a church for God, as you would be if you had been called to lead an army to battle for the Lord of hosts."

five

The other day my blog kind of blew up.  I don't know what happened.  I had to re-do the sidebars and they still aren't exactly back to the way they were.   I took the opportunity to change my profile picture a little bit (up there in the left corner). 

six

The pictures are some self-portraits in the bathroom mirror that I did a year or so ago.  In the spirit of "full disclosure" I have to say that I'm not nearly as cute and energetic looking as that in person.  It's amazing what some colored filters and creative cropping can do.  Suddenly you're ten years younger and thinner.

seven

Every first Wednesday of the month the tornado sirens go off  for the monthly drill.  This normally doesn't bother me all that much, but in April and May it is usually a stormy, cloudy day and then it scares me...just for a second I have flashbacks of being ten years old in the bathtub with a mattress over me (this happens to you as a child at least once every summer if you live in Texas).  And then I remember it's the first Wednesday and I'm ok.

eight

I really should have some "extra" posts ready for when I'm not in the mood to post because there are some days when I am just not feeling  it.

nine

One of the coolest things I've seen online is the website Color in Motion by Columbian designer, Claudia Cortes. I've had it in my bookmarks for at least a couple of years and it never fails to inspire me when I need a little boost.  If you love color, or art, or you're teaching kids about color, or you feel creative or you don't feel creative, but you want to, then you should go and explore this site. 

ten

Though I don't talk about it often I am a *huge* LOST fan.  If you watch the show you know that the character Sawyer always has the funniest nicknames for people. 

ABC now has a "nickname generator" on the site.  You put in some info about yourself and the generator tells you what Sawyer would call you if you were on the island.  Pretty funny.  Mine was "Betty Lightbulb" which I think is quite fitting. 

When I was looking for the link I found a widget, so you don't even have to leave my blog to find out what your Sawyer nickname would be! Yee-haw.  Try it out and tell me in the comments what yours is!

♥ M~
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"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you." -Psalm 9:10

tuesday ten - mish mash

ten random thoughts on tuesday {wednesday is the new tuesday}

one

Guess what I'm working on?  My very own Bible Cover!  I found the directions to make my own pattern and let me tell you that was *the* hardest part so far. 

There was much "wailing and gnashing of teeth" if you know what I mean.  I typically don't enjoy measuring and I have learned that sewing is *all about measuring*. 

There are a lot of fractions. (1/4" seam anyone?)

There is measuring

There is actual math.

But I *still* love it!

Look how it looks so far!

More about this tomorrow and what I learned about ironing.

two

O-man is going to Austin on business at the end of the month and we all get to go!  Yippee!  We went last year with him as well and had such a good time. 

We ate lots of yummy mexican food (my favorite - I could eat it every day - forever - I can feel my yankee husband rolling his eyes right now).

They had the coolest lights & chandeliers at this restaurant. El Arroyo, in downtown Austin and the yummiest fajitas you've ever tasted!

We visited the capitol, which is always fun & interesting.

But this time there was a legislative session going on *and*...

...a protest!  Woo-hoo, a homeschool mama & daddy's dream day!

We even chatted with one of the organizers of the protest afterward about their views and why they were protesting.  She was very sweet and explained everything to Teen O (it was kinda over Little O's head) and then we had a family discussion about what we agreed and disagreed with.  The best kind of learning day.

Some pretty flowering cactus (cacti?).

Looking so forward to going to some antique-y, artsy places downtown this year! Hope the weather is better!

three

Teen O came in this morning while I was looking at etsy and asked me if he could have a pet hedgehog.  After talking to him about it for awhile, I turned back around to look at the screen and scrolled down and the next item was a painting of a hedgehog.  Weird, huh?

four

We got some pretty big bottles of bubbles in our Easter baskets around here and the other night we decided try blowing "night bubbles"...So we turned the back porch light on and were surprised by how pretty they were.

These were taken with the flash and the porch light to illuminate them.

When I turned the flash off I got this cool result:

Great conversations about light and capturing it ensued.  Gotta love impromptu homeschooling.

five

There was a very fun/funny game at Chuck E. Cheese the other day when we went for Little O's birthday.  It was a Mario Racing game and it had a little camera on it that snapped the picture of the boys and put them in the characters faces.  Look how cute:

six

I found a cool little tool to help me keep track of work time/computer time/school planning time etc.  It's called "Instant Boss" and you set up the time intervals that you want to work and take a break and little boss comes and yells at you when it's time to get back to work.  It's pretty funny.  It also tracks how much time you've spent working which is nice on some days when you feel you haven't accomplished much.

seven

Another great find is this meal planner from future girl. It's so cute the way it looks and it's set up *totally* the way I think.  I really love it.  Simple but exactly what I needed.  Her blog is pretty cool too - lots of free patterns and tutorials.  She is one talented, creative and crafty lady.

 

eight

Recently on twitter, I heard someone much younger than me call the Scooby-doo that I used to watch
as a kid "the old-awesome-vintage one".  *sigh*

nine

In my quest for what to do with junk mail I found joon - she is a genius and I am so doing this.  Yee-haw!

ten

Since I've been doing the "ten on tuesday" posts I have noticed that the weeks go by at lightening speed these days.  How can it have been a week already??

♥ M~
---------------------------------------------------------
"For God says, 'At just the right time I heard you; on the day of salvation I helped you.'  Indeed the "right time" is now.  Today is the day of salvation."
-2 Corinthians 6:2

ten on tuesday -crafty & cakey & what can you do with old egg shells from Easter?

ten random thoughts on tuesday
(on wednesday night again - maybe I should rename it "ten on wen"... you know that would rhyme if you said it with a Texas accent...really...try it...."tin on win"...see?)

one

It's cupcake week on Martha Stewart!  Have you been watching?  So much yummy fun.  I think we should have cupcake week around here. Then I can make more of these.

two

My little guy is turning five tomorrow.  This hurts.  And also makes me feel a little crazy, because *yesterday* I was changing his diaper...yesterday people! 

And I don't really want him to stop calling me mama and kissing me every time he walks through the room and saying  "I yuv you" instead of "I love you".

But it will happen.  I know. 

So I'll just treasure every moment and take a million pictures and blog every cute thing he says and does (even if you guys get sick of it...heh-heh)...and then I'll remember...and then I'll start it all over again with grand-children! yippee!

Since his birthday always falls right around Easter we tend to combine the two and he actually *loves* having an egg hunt at his birthday party.  He calls it his "easterbirthday".  So sweet.  So here's some snaps from the party we had on Sunday:

Little O and his great uncle (my uncle).  So funny.

Chocolate cheesecake, yum (his request)!  I'll post the recipe this week.

Little O attacking the pinata.

I *love* this one.  My nephew's little feet as he runs for the pinata candy.

Nephew and Little O grabbing that pinata candy!

Egg hunting at the "easterbirthday"

Squirt gun fight broke out after present opening.

three

Remember the yummy salsa I told you about?  The unusual ingredient is watermelon!  I know it sounds gross, but I'm telling you it is soooooo good.  You have to try it!  The watermelon replaces the usual tomatoes.  Most people don't even realize this until they taste it.  Here is the recipe:

Watermelon Salsa

Ingredients:

3 cups chopped watermelon
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
3-5 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon chopped green onion
2 tablespoons chopped jalapeño pepper (this is spicy, cut it to one if you are chicken)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a large glass bowl and chill for at least an hour.  The longer you let it sit in the fridge the yummier flavors taste together. 

2. Serve in the hollowed shell of the watermelon to delight and confuse your guests!

A couple of hints:

-DO NOT rub your eyes after chopping up the jalepeno...you will be sorry if you do.

-You may want to put the chopped watermelon in a colander over a bowl for a half hour or so to let it drain a little bit because otherwise your salsa can be a little too "juicy".

four

I really don't like junk mail.  It's like people mailing trash to my house that I have to then sort and make decisions about.  Like I don't have enough to do.  Junk mail...yuck.  I am going to have to think of some crafty things to do with junk mail.  Here are some ideas to start: Junk Mail Gems

five

We made a fun craft with our leftover easter egg shells today.  Super easy too!  Pictures & a tutorial in the next post. (right after this one or maybe before by the time you read this...heh-heh) EDITED: It's here!

six

I'm teaching myself embroidery!  It's so fun and it seems to go along with my new love for fabric.  I found a really fun link that has lots of free vintage embroidery patterns!  So cool! 

seven

Another fun link I wanted to share with you is this one-Free printables at Wondertime.  Fantastic fun for homeschoolers or even just preschool moms or scrapbookers or babysitters...you get the idea.

eight

Did you see my new button about subscribing to my RSS feed (over there on the right)?  I completely made that up. Just thought I should tell you. 

I *do* think you'll feel more crafty after hanging out here though.  And the best way to hang out here of course is to subscribe to my feed.

I know I've told you about bloglines before (so cool).  But just in case some of you still aren't gettin' the whole RSS feed thing, I found a great video to help explain it.  It's by the same guys who did the Twitter video I showed you earlier, Common Craft (they're geniuses).

nine

My friend Janice at Everyday Education, wrote a really wonderful article a couple of days ago.  It's geared towards homeschooling parents, but really I think if you're a parent at all you will be blessed by this article.

The two lines that spoke to me the most were these:

"Remember that children don’t remember what you do; they remember how you made them feel."

"Understand that this season of life will be over before you know it. Don’t put off doing the fun things!"

Those two lines really speak to what I want this blog to be all about.  I'm always striving to have fun with my kids, to soak up every minute of my time with them and make sweet memories with them that they can carry into adulthood and their own parenthood.  I want to teach them how good God is and I want to share with you all the ways I figure out how to do this.

I'm actually working on a pretty big project related to this and in the mean time I hope that when you come and visit here you are inspired in some way to create things and have fun and celebrate with your children or even as a child yourself .

Go read the article, it will bless you.

ten

Thanks for my three volunteers who played tag with me!  Here they are:

Quirky at Quirky is a Compliment

Alison at Barefoot in Boston

Erin at Fully Alive...Ready To Smile (Actually she hasn't done it yet, but said she would so I'm linking her in anticipation...heh-heh...)

Ok, now time to go put up the egg shell craft.  Hope ya'll are havin' a great week.

♥ M~

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Come, children, listen closely; I'll give you a lesson in God worship."
-Psalm 34:10

ten on tuesday - the fabric edition

ten random thoughts on tuesday (on wednesday night)

one

Easter was lovely and long.   We had quite a fun (which translates to exhausting for mama & daddy) three-day extravaganza.  I won't bore you with tons of photos, but I do have to show you this one:

I found these little plushie peeps and I cannot stop taking photos of them.  They are so cute!  I always buy peeps for the kids Easter baskets because...well..it's tradition...but you know...they taste ...um...  disgusting! 

And we almost always throw them out *unopened*.  *ugh*  I really don't like that, so when I found these little stuffed peeps this year I was so excited!  These will be the new tradition. Yay.

two

After the egg coloring was finished hubby was cleaning up for me (yes, that's right, I have *the* best husband in the world - see number 4 for more proof), and he asked,

"So can I throw this egg dye out?" 

I don't know why, but the words "can I throw this out?" just trigger something in me and my natural reaction is to say,

"No way I can make something with that!"

I got that *I can make something* gleam in my eye and Oman looked just slightly annoyed so I knew I better jump up and make something immediately to prove that I wasn't being the ultimate pack rat. 

The first thing I saw on my desk as I went into the kitchen was a little stack of manila tags...so into the dye they went!  And you can't believe how cute they turned out!

I also experimented with the little white wax crayon that came with the kit for the eggs and that looked even cuter!  See my little birdie?  (can you tell that Molly Chicken is influencing me?)

So now I have quite the collection of tags to use for projects.  I'm thinking of adding some stitching to them too.

If you like these and want to try it you should run to the grocery store right now and see if they have the egg dye kits on clearance.  I usually pick these up the week after Easter for less than 50 cents!

And if you *really* like them, but have no desire to make them yourself then check my etsy shop in a couple days because I'll have some listed there. :)

three

Things you hear frequently in a house of boys:
"Ha-ha...you will never defeat me!"
"Why can't I just wear *this*?"
"What? I don't smell anything."

Things you don't hear:

"Would you braid my hair?"
"I think we need more pink around here"
"Wanna play barbies with me?"

four

My husband can fix anything.  Really, he is a genius.  He has fixed everything that's ever broken in our house or figured out a way to replace it with almost no money. 

Last night the dryer made the most awful sound and it wouldn't stop.  This morning he opens it up, does some tool-y things to it and now it works better than before!  Really, it had gotten so loud and now you can barely hear it.  I {heart} my handy hubby.

(and also, tonight when I told him supper was ready he said "yay!" as if he was about to go on vacation...and that is even better than handiness to me.)

five

Let's talk about the quilt show some more shall we?  I didn't get to finish showing you everything anyway.

There was so, so much beautiful fabric.

Did I mention the fabric was beautiful??

Lollipops of bias tape.  yum!

Cutest pillow case kits *ever*.

six

Mom bought me this one for LittleO's room.  I'm going to be re-doing it this summer and I just fell in *love* with this!  It's so sweet and retro and I just love all the little sayings about the Lord.  I want to do a mural with those little birds and sun!  Can't wait.

seven

My mom bought me the pattern for this one too!!  I'm so excited, my first quilt!  Isn't it gorgeous?

It's called French Roses by Heather French.   I just love the way the flowers are all rustic looking and fuzzy around the edges.

I like the colors they've used here, but the fabric I want to use is the Ginger Blossom collection by Sandi Henderson. 

I am *so* in love with that fabric.  Gotta sell some stuff on etsy to raise the money to buy me a whole lot of Ginger Blossom! 

And then you will get to see the journey of a first time quilter which may or may not be pretty.  I don't know...*LOL*...

And here is all the beautiful fabric she bought me:

Notice a color trend at all?

I just love the birdy paint by number one...

eight

Can you guess what these are?

They are these:

Gorgeous quilted hearts cut from all sorts & styles of vintage quilts.  They are so beautiful. 

I'm making all kinds of wonderful things with them that hopefully will end up in my shop if I can manage to let them go!

Each one is so sweet and unique.  I just love them. I may put a few of them all on their own in the shop so you can play too!

nine

Here are some of  my first sew-y things.  I am trying not to be too pefectionistic about it, but I do see a lot of flaws when I look at these.  I still love them though and I'm falling more and more in love with fabric everyday!

The first one is this little bunny.  I made him from an old bandana because I wanted to practice on something besides my lovely fabric.

I found him at Crafty Carnival.  She has a wonderful tutorial for him and a little pillow to put him in as well!  You have to go see, they are so cute.

He didn't come out looking like the pillow type to me though.  He kinda looks like he has an attitude...you know?  Like he's saying..."you want somma this?" 

This is my angel baby:

She is from a pattern my mom gave me called "Small Snippets" from Mary's Patterns.  I have to say even with her imperfections I am really crazy about her.  I have never made anything like her before and I just can't stop picking her up and looking at her. It's so amazing to take little bits of thread and fabric and create a beautiful little thing.

She is *very* tiny.  I should have put a quarter in the pic with her to show you.  It would have taken
up her whole dress, that's how tiny she is. 

And I just love her.  Did I mention that?

I want to make lots more of these little snippets.  Oh if only there were 48 hours in day. (24 of them occurring after children went to sleep...wouldn't that be fabulous??  Oh...but then I would miss the children....a little...)

ten

Look what my library just got in!!!

I am so excited!!!

I must go fall asleep reading these now and dream sweet, fabric-y dreams...

Hope you're all having a fantastic week!

Grace and Peace,

♥ M~

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing."
-Proverbs 31:13 (the message)

ten on tuesday - 8

ten random thoughts on tuesday (night)

one

I have been tagged by three sweet friends!  Deanne, Marianna and Quirky.  I  just wanted to say thanks ladies and I am working on these!  There is so much to post and so little time! 

two

We made Glazed Lemon Scones the other day.  Oh what fun! They were yummy too, only I think I flattened them out a little too much so they weren't quite as high as I think scones are supposed to be. I'd never baked scones before though, so I was pretty happy with the way they came out!  The lemon glaze was *dee-licous* I could just eat that with a spoon - yum!  I found the recipe in the most recent issue of Family Fun Magazine. 

three

Here's the recipe and some visuals:  (you can also get the recipe here)

Ingredients:

Scones:
2 cups flour (I used cake flour and this made them very moist)
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Finely grated zest of one lemon
3 Tbsps cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 cup heavy or whipping cream, plus a little for brushing
1 egg yolk, beaten slightly
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Lemon Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp lemon extract
1 Tbsp melted butter
2 Tbsp heavy or whipping cream

1. Heat the oven to 400°. Grease a large, heavy baking sheet (preferably not a dark one) and set it aside.

2. Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Add the lemon zest and toss the mixture with your hands.

3. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.

4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the cream, the yolk, and the vanilla extract and use a fork to blend the liquids within the well. Then use a wooden spoon to combine all the ingredients, just until the dough holds together.

5. Scrape the dough onto a flour-dusted surface and then, using floured hands, knead it gently three or four times to form a ball. Flatten the ball into a disk about 3/4-inch thick, then cut it as you would a pie into 8 wedges. Transfer the pieces to the baking sheet, leaving at least 1/4 inch between them. Brush the tops lightly with cream.

6. Bake the scones in the center of the oven until golden brown, about 16 to 18 minutes. Allow them to cool on the sheet for a few minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack.

7. While the scones continue to cool, make the glaze. Combine all the ingredients in a small mixing bowl and whisk them until the mixture is smooth. If necessary, you can thin the glaze with water, stirring in no more than 1/2 teaspoon at a time. When the scones have cooled for another 10 minutes, drizzle each one generously with glaze. Makes 8 scones.

(can you see my banner in the tea kettle?? heh-heh - love that - can you see the fridge open?  LittleO was getting a snack...)

four

Okay, if you've been reading my blog for any amount of time you know that I have a squirrel thing (not like a "thing" for squirrels - that would be weird - a squirrel thing - click here to catch up). 

Well yesterday when taking a peek at what people were searching for when they came across my blog I found the most hilarious search term ever.  Someone was looking for "squirrel bureaucracy".  I kid you not.

five

After I finished laughing I thought...what in the world were they looking for? What human being would want or need to know about squirrel bureaucracy?  I mean, actually, I thought I made that term up...you know?...I don't think there really *is* a squirrel bureaucracy..is there?...

Wait a minute...do squirrels get internet?  Maybe the *squirrels* were doing some research....

six

Congratulations to Lisa at The Scrap Princess Blog she won my prize at The Ultimate Blog Party! Look here to see what she won!

seven

Speaking of prizes I won *two* prizes during the blog party.  How cool is that? 

I won an Arbonne goodie bag from Stacey at The Truest Thing and some *fantastic* felt pins from Katrin at Cuteacious (you must go check her etsy shop, Kaleidoscope Style - so pretty). New bloggy friends and prizes!! What a blessing! 

eight

The quilt show was fabulous.  amazing.  I really can't describe it with words. 

I've always been a paper girl myself, but my mom has been wanting me to sew and a friend or two have encouraged me in that direction so that I was feeling kind of fabric-y already when my mom called and invited me to the quilt show.

nine

I am *so* glad I went. There was so much color and design and texture, everywhere I looked.  It was astonishingly inspiring!  Look at this!!!

This quilt was so tiny!  No bigger than your hand (those are the mini-binder clips holding it up)!

 

Felted cupcakes!! Can you get over it??

ten

My mom bought me fabric and goodies that I can't wait to show you tomorrow (plus more quilt show pics).  So much pretty!

I can't stop touching all the fabric.  Is this normal? 

I never liked the term "fat quarters" before because...you know... it had the word "fat" in it ...heh-heh...but now I {heart} the words "fat quarters"!

You know what they mean to me now?

"Here is some very expensive fabric that you cannot normally afford, but we are going to cut you a little, fat piece of it and only charge you $2.00!!  Now you can have some.  Aren't you happy?"

Yes! I am so happy!

My mom also got me a book on how to make fabric yo-yo's and ideas to use them *and* a heart-shaped yo-yo maker!!

I am so excited, I want to cover *everything* in heart-shaped yo-yos!!

But then

will I have to cut my fabric to do that?

Because I don't want to cut it.

I just want to touch it,

and hold it

and love it.

I have to go now, the fabric is in the other room and I can't reach it from here.

♥ M~
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"All you who fear God, how blessed you are! How happily you walk on His smooth straight road!...Enjoy the blessing! Revel in the goodness!"
-Psalm 128:1 (the message)

ten on tuesday - 7

ten random thoughts on tuesday

one

The three questions my hubby asks me most often:

1.) How many pictures of that are you going to take?

2.) Did you take this out of the garbage??

3.) Without looking at the clock, what time do you think it is right now?

two

A conversation with Little O this morning:

littleO:  mama?  'scuse me, mama?

me:  yes?

littleO: is dis special to you? (holding up a scrap of fabric from my desk)

me: no, why?  do you want it?

littleO: well, no.  I just thought it was special to you and I think I sneezed on it.

three

Sometimes when I'm emailing someone in a rush and I'm typing super fast I will start to sign my name and type:

lovey  ou

instead of

love you

I kinda like it.

four

Have you ever been trying to take a photo of something in your home and you're zoomed in on it and then you tilt your camera down towards the carpet and it auto focuses and then you scream? 

Oh. 

No that's never happened to me either...I was just wondering...you know if it had ever happened to you.

five

The snow is all finally gone and I heard the squirrels again for the first time yesterday, scampering around on the roof. 

six

Snow you say? Yes, here is a look at our *one day* of snow in March. (You "zone 5 & unders don't hate me because I live in zone 8 - a little early gardening talk for ya there - heh-heh)

Teen O - he thinks this picture is pretty cool.

Caught him with the zoom trying to catch snowflakes on his tongue. He *does not* think this photo is cool.  And please don't tell him that I posted it 'cause I'll get in trouble. (heh-heh)

Snowball fight!

seven

This morning when I went in to make sure TeenO was awake (which of course he was not) I noticed he had retrieved an old pink & red flowered quilt from the closet (must've gotten cold last night). 

As soon as I saw it I thought it would be perfect for a spring tablecloth in the kitchen.  (I was just thinking of buying a new one - spring tablecloth, not kitchen)

I grabbed hold of the edge of the blanket and mostly talking to myself said out loud,

"hey, can I use *this* for the tablecloth?" 

Teen O mutters in his sleep, "yeah, but not right now, ok?" 

Oh that child knows me too well.

I'm washing it as I type.  Can't wait to see if it works!

eight

I am going to the quilt show with my mom this weekend!!!!

nine

Fabric, fabric, fabric.  I am *so* excited!  (you can't be jealous 'cause love is not jealous.  besides, I will bring you some back ok?)

ten

I woke up to a foggy, springy morning today.  And here is what I heard and saw (- more video - aren't I conquering technology?? - well, ok, after you see the video you won't think I'm conquering anything - sorry about my lame video skills - just close your eyes and listen if you have to.)

lovey  ou

M~

----------------------------------------------------------------
"You made me so happy, God I saw your work and I shouted for joy. How magnificent your work, God! How profound your thoughts!"
-Ps 92:4 (the message)

ten on tuesday - 6

ten random thoughts on tuesday

one

It's Daylight Savings Time again this Sunday.  I am not a fan.

two

I know that there are *thousands* of pencils in this house.  I would really like to know where they are.

When I need a pencil I look in the pencil drawer.

Empty.

Except one small chewed up one with no eraser which is only still there because no one wants to use it.

I look on our supply shelf in the hall where we keep all the school supplies. 

Empty. 

Except for a green one that is really a watercolor pencil from my scrapbook stuff. (so *that's* where that went) 

I decide to use it anyway and guess what?  No lead.

In desperation I go to the extra supply drawer with the bulk packages of items I get at the beginning of the school year when everything is on sale.

Empty.

Wha...?

Where are all the pencils???

really.  where are they?

Maybe this lady has them.

three

For those of you wondering what ever happened with the angry Fedex guys.  Um...nothing.  Can you believe it?  Hubby's coworker called and was transfered from department to department all denying knowledge of and/or responsibility for said Fedex guys,

{oh, that's not my department, let me transfer you}

until finally someone took his name and number and said they'd be sure to get back to him and guess what?

That's right. Nothin'.

So be careful if you're in Texas and see a Fedex truck because there are two very angry Fedex guys driving around who now know they can commit road rage without penalty.

four

I voted in the Texas primary today!  One of the requests I had on my last contest was that I would discuss my political views.  I might do that, but they may be a little controversial.  So I'm still thinking about it.

five

I really don't like it when I'm reading the comments on someone's blog and one of the commentors commenters people leaving a comment, says something really funny and clever and seems like such a neat person and I mouse over their name and *no blog*!  *Ugh*  If you are funny and clever you need to have a blog. I want to read more about you and remember? I want to see your living room!

six

Guess what I saw out my kitchen window last night?  Snow!!!

 

Already gone today though. *sigh*

seven

I saw Claudine Helmuth on Martha today and it was like one of my *friends* was on Martha! Isn't that silly?  I don't know her personally of course (although I think we might have taught at some of the same conventions) but I *love*love*love* her books and read her blog.  She showed Martha how to make her little "sitting pretty" dolls.  I can't wait to try this!

eight


I got this book from Paperback Swap yesterday!  (it's been on my list for two years!)  I love it so far! So full of fun stuff and creative ideas.

nine
I found this cool 'sound' dictionary.  You type in the word you want pronounced and it says it for you!  Love that.

ten

I am eating these right now.  Not really good for you.  Pretty much corn syrup and pepper.  I just get this weird craving for them sometimes.  And they are so cinnamon-y and spicy and sweet.  Is there a fruit that tastes like Hot Tamales?  Maybe I could munch on that instead.

Grace and Peace to you,

M~

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"It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge."
-Romans 7:21-23 (the message)

tuesday ten - 5

ten random thoughts on tuesday

one

Thanks to a post by my friend susie, I remembered I had fresh cantaloupe in the fridge this morning and had several thick slices for a mid-morning snack (and I would like to point out that there is a box of Krispy Kremes on the kitchen counter that my dad brought over for the kids that I did not touch...uh-huh...that's right) 

two

It was so yummy. So fresh and juicy and sweet...and I started thinking....cantaloupe is *so* good.  How can someone bite into a piece of cantaloupe and not believe in God?  I'm just sayin'.  How? 

three

I bought organic apples this weekend at the regular grocery store instead of Whole Foods (oh why can't there be a Whole Foods closer to me?).  I guess because they want to keep them super separate from the rest of the fruit they wrap them in this tape that says "organic" all over it.

four

So my dad looks at this bowl of apples and reads the tape out loud and then asks, "yeah, but is that *tape* organic?"...everyone is a comedian in my family...hmmm... I suppose it's a good point though.

five

I just recently learned (from Martha Stewart) that 2% milk is not that much less fat than whole milk.  I guess I always thought 2% was compared to 100% (so you know 98% less fat) which would be really good except that it doesn't make *any* sense at all because milk that was 100% fat would be...well, gross and kinda thick but anyway, whole milk is actually 3% fat so 2% is not very different.

We go through about 2 gallons of  milk a week at my house (I have boys remember?) so I decided to switch to 1% and then eventually sneak in skim milk.  I thought this was going to be an issue and take awhile, but  I brought home the first couple of gallons this weekend and the boys didn't even blink an eye. One gallon is already gone.  That is one of the many reasons I *love* having boys.

six

My kitchen timer is currently a little gingerbread man who is two years old and from the dollar spot at Target.  I have had at least three of the pretty white timer-ish looking timers each of which has completely stopped working (ok, I dropped one of them), but little dollar gingerbread man is still timing things for me. 

All of his numbers have worn off  from use but I have learned where the arrow should be for what amount of time.  My family hasn't though, and they frequently ask me to set the timer for them. So I twist the bottom around and hold it up to the light over the stove and mutter to myself, "okay, that's about even with his eyes so that's five minutes."  I should probably go buy a new one, but I'm kind of attached to him now.

seven

My aunt bought a copy of  "The Dangerous Book for Boys" for Teen O for Christmas.  He now wants a swiss army knife and a new house with bigger trees so he can build a tree house.

Thanks Aunt Kim.

(It's actually a really *neat* book if you have boys in your life and I wouldn't mind the house with bigger trees.)

eight

I am really excited that we are busting out our pop-up camper for the first time this year and heading down to the Tyler area for the weekend!  I'm planning on taking *lots* of photos of all the little towns along the way.  We'll also be in Canton for the First Monday Trade days!!

I haven't been in so long and I can't wait!  If you've never heard of it before it's a giant garage sale/flea market/craft sale where you can find just about anything.  It's been going on in roughly the same spot since the 1850's!  I am going to have so much to blog about when we get back!

nine

Did you know that Easter is just over three weeks away?? 

Yes it is.

Uh-huh.

(stop shaking your head)

{Sunday March 24th}

ten

A little peek of something I'm working on for Easter:

I have some serious, Easter-y planning, sewing and baking to do.

It will have to wait though, because right now I am headed off to start packing for our camping trip!  Yippee!

I will be posting by proxy the rest of the week so if I don't answer emails, please know I will get back to you soon.

Blessings

♥ M~

-----------------------------------------------------
"The angel spoke to the women: "There is nothing to fear here. I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as He said. Come and look at the place where He was placed.

"Now, get on your way quickly and tell His disciples, 'He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there.' That's the message."

-Matthew 28:5-7 (the message)

tuesday ten - 4

ten random thoughts on tuesday

one

I heard birdies singing this morning...birdies I tell you!  I am so excited spring is coming soon!

two

You might've noticed there's been a slight name change in my ezine.  It is now "heART & Soul".  That's because there is another neat ezine named "The Heart of the Matter". 

So to avoid confusion I decided a name change was in order. I kinda like the new name even better because I think it describes what the zine will be all about (Heart, ART & Soul!).  If you haven't subscribed, head over there now! It's freeeeeeee!

three

I have recently become aware that there is a large, gaping chasm between what I *think* can be accomplished in a day and what can *actually* be accomplished in a day by a normal human woman.  This is only complicated by my apparent lack of any concept of time. 

Case in point.  I was just thinking I would like to have this posted by noon today so that I can finish up some other things.  I look down at my computer clock (yes...I have a clock *right on my computer*) and it is 2:00 pm.  This has the potential for causing some serious disappointment as you can imagine.  Something I need to work on.

four

I need to start cleaning up for the holidays, no not Easter...Christmas!  It's only 309 days away you know.

five

Did you see my 'Neat-O new thing' button?  I stole borrowed the idea from my friend Elizabeth. She has a "link of the week" in her sidebar and I love it.  I am alway running across neat, new things online(well new to me anyway) so I thought the button would be a great way to share it with you!

six

Little O has been cracking me up lately because he thinks the word for "dizzy" is "bizzy".  This makes for some very interesting conversations.  In the grocery store after seeing me rub my temples due to an impending headache..."Are you gettin' bizzy, mama?"  *weird look from the lady across the aisle*

seven

I found such a great, new place for homeschool moms!  It's called "The Homeschool Lounge" and it's kinda like facebook for homeschoolin' mamas.  It is soooo neat!  If you are a homeschooling mama you have to go sign up right now!  And come and find me if you do, I go by "OneHappyMama" there. 

There are all kinds of fun groups to join and you can post photos and videos and it's all private, member only and *freeeeeeeee*.  Also, if you sign up and like it, be sure to blog about it because they are having a giveaway for bloggers!

eight

I've had some inquiries about the buttons I make, so I thought I'd try something.  I'm going to be the "Button Girl"! (you know..."hey, who made your button?" "oh, I found this great button girl".)

So the first person to comment on this post gets a free one.  After that, I'm going to make them for a mere five buck-a-roonies ($5.00 ea) (evil spell check is fine with "buck-a" but "roonies" is freaking it out) There will be some limitations with that of course which we can discuss in email. 

We'll see how it goes, I might have to charge more later (or you know, pay *you* to take one).  But if you're one of the ones who wanted a button for your group or blog or whatever just send me an email with what you need/want and we'll go from there.  I'll take paypal and maybe I can figure out how to make a paypal button even!  {Oh...and I promise I won't actually turn you *into* a button.  heh-heh}

nine

Yesterday my Little O woke up earlier than usual and came in and climbed up in my lap while I was checking email.  This is what I saw when I looked down.

I never want to forget this. ever. 

You think if I just close my eyes real tight and pretend it's not happening I can keep him from growing up?  Naaah.  I guess I don't wanna do that anyway. (well, maybe a little)

ten

When I have to call someone and figure out why they are not doing something they are supposed to be doing, I make a quick list so I don't forget what to ask and if I'm *really* upset I scribble a reminder of how Jesus would like me to handle it at the top of the page.

If I don't do this...well..."Christ like" is  not a good description of my behavior. An example is below (it's in my messy *be angry but sin not* handwriting...heh-heh) from one of my many conversations with doctors and nurses over the fiasco with my dad's surgery.

One of the cool things about blogging is that I probably would've never even noticed this little habit of mine if I hadn't been looking for number ten.  :)

Grace and Peace friends,

M~
----------------------------------------------
"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven;"
-Ecclesiastes 3:1

ten on tuesday - 3

one

I'm so excited about this one!  Remember this post?  Well guess what I got in the mail from my mom???  These stencils from Designer Stencils! 

She sent them as a little valentines present after reading my blog!  Wasn't that so sweet?? (Thanks Mom!!)  They are so cool and I can't wait to try them out tomorrow! (Tomorrow is a Valentines baking day - yay!)

two

I just figured out that when you leave a comment on my posts and I get an email that tells me you commented,  I can actually hit reply and write you back!  It automatically goes to you.  I love that!

three

Speaking of commenting, I noticed something about myself the other day.  Sometimes when I'm commenting on a blog, I lose interest in my own comment half way through and want to quit writing it.  I then have to decide if I should quit or just try and finish half-heartedly and try to get it to make sense.  I'm really sorry if you get one of those half-hearted ones.

four

So far three things I've posted about in my ten on tuesday have been addressed or somehow solved by one of my readers!!  Okay, two of the "readers" were my mom and my hubby but still, how cool is that?  The first one of course were those awesome heart stencils that my mom sent me.  Then there were the extra laundry baskets hubby brought me and last week after I was bemoaning the fact that all my ideas came in the shower and I had no way to write them down, my friend Quirky gives me the great idea of putting a dry erase board in the shower!!  Isn't that brilliant?  I am so doing that! *And* I'm gonna decorate it all pretty and red & pinkish...heh-heh....hope the o-man doesn't mind. :)

five

When someone says they don't have a blog, I think, but where do you live?  You know, my blog is like my little online house where I keep all my stuff and where friends come to visit.  It seems funny to think there are people out there just reading email and blogs and *not* telling the whole world about their private lives.  C'mon...get a blog....everybody's doin' it...and I want see what your living room looks like...

six

Whenever an email subject starts with "The Truth About..." I delete. lightning speed.  So you know...don't ever use that subject line if you want me to read it, k? (even if it really *is* the shocking truth about something amazing...)

seven

Clear crinkly cellophane is just the best isn't it?  I mean really, you could wrap a stick of deodorant in it  and tie it up with ribbon and a tag and it would just seem like the most thoughtful gift ever.  I {heart} clear crinkly cellophane.

eight

I looked at my phone the other day and it appeared that I had missed a call from the o-man.  So I called him and it went like this:

o-man: hello?

me: hi. did you call me?

o-man:  um...yeah, a long time ago...and then we fell in love... and got married and had children...remember?

me: ho ho

(he is pretty funny though - and kinda cute - i think i'll keep him)

Okay so that was only eight, but I'm super tired and will be baking 50 cupcakes tomorrow so I'm gonna call it a night.

The next two days are going to be a whirlwind of red & pinky goodness so while I will try and get some posts in I may not be able to respond to everyone until this weekend.  So don't worry if you don't hear back from me I'm just buried in a mountain of luuuuuvvv.. :)

Happy Heart Day Eve Eve.

M~
---------------------------------------------------------------
"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."
-Psalm 28:7

ten on tuesday - 2

one

Garanimals are back!  Just saw them over the weekend. Isn't that funny?  For some strange reason I have fond memories of Garanimals.  I don't  have *any* idea why because look:

Yes, those are Purple, Bell Bottom, Corduroys!  *ewwwww*

But, hey, I matched...

*side note: Did you know there is a Garanimals font?? Look.

two

I have had some inquiries about the squirrels.  They are awfully quiet lately, but the weather has been weird (freezing cold one day and hot the next - rainy today) and they are usually more frisky in the nice weather.  It could also be the lack of a building permit.  You know how that squirrel bureaucracy can be.

three

Do you know where the most random thoughts for my blog come to me?  In the shower.  I don't know why, but if I don't write them down immediately I completely forget them, so now I try to dry one hand off and lean out of the shower and write them down, dripping all over my pad of paper.  Shouldn't someone invent a way to write ideas down in the shower?  You know like the astronaut pen...only...for wet stuff...instead of... space....?

four

Every time I make a peanut butter & honey sandwich for my little O, I use two knives. It's so annoying.  I spread the peanut butter on, put the knife in the dishwasher (*ugh*), squeeze some honey on, put the sandwich together and then realize that I need to cut the sandwich and the knife is in the dishwasher touching something gross, so I get out another knife.  I could just *wash* the knife in the dishwasher...but...well... I don't.

five

Did you know you can hit Ctrl + Z (Command + Z on the Mac, yes I *am* Mac savvy...ha-ha) and undo whatever you just did in most dialog boxes and text editors?.  And if your post suddenly disappears it will sometimes bring it back too. Ctrl + Y will redo (Command + Y on the Mac)

That's right. You're welcome.  (I like Starbucks gift cards and fine chocolates, but you know, you do whatever you think is right).

six

Remember last tuesday's ten....#two...the laundry....guess what hubby bought me this weekend?  Two new laundry baskets...*LOL*...think he's tryin' to tell me somethin'?  He made me promise not to put anything in them but laundry.   I like him.  He makes me laugh. (maybe I should blog about my lack of rubber stamps next...hmmmm)

seven

I would like to know why the magazines that I subscribe to put 7, 000 subscription cards in my magazines?  Hey, guys...you got me....I'm *SUBSCRIBED*....really...save some trees would ya? 

*side note:  I'm doing this with those extra cards now.

eight
Look at these gorgeous cookies!

They're made with these!  Isn't that cool? I really want to try them!

nine

The other day Teen-O was putting a box in the garage for me.  It looked like he was about to put it on my treadmill that is all set up and waiting for me.... and I said, "Don't put it on my treadmill, ok?"  and he laughed...out loud... I think he even snorted!  And then he choked out "Ok, mom".   

hmmph. 

What?  I'm gonna use it.

ten

These are some little birdie babies I'm working on for our Valentine Clothesline.  (more on that later.) 

Aren't they so beeeee-you-teeee-ful??  I just love birdies.

Hey that ten wasn't as hard as last time.  I think I'm gettin' the hang of this!

M~
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"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
-Matthew 6:26

husband's rebuttal

Ok, I have waited too long to post today...so busy (entering giveaways) doing housework and stuff. And now my hubby is patiently waiting for me to come (watch the LOST recap) spend some time with him so I have to quickly tell you that after he read my tuesday ten yesterday he had some comments...*LOL*

So here they are.

on number two - the laundry

"The easier way is you get your husband to do it...isn't it?"

on number seven - the squirrels

"Do you know how much traffic we'd get on our roof if they built a Starbucks up there?

on number ten - not sayin'/just sayin'

 

hubby: I didn't make that up you know, it's from Mad About You.
me: well it's made up isn't it?
hubby: yeah, everything is.

So there you have it.  Isn't he clever?

Ok, gotta run (LOST is calling) and get some shut-eye.

Better post tomorrow, promise.
----------------------------------------------------
"when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
       when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet."
-Proverbs 3:24

ten on tuesday

I'm completely stealing the "ten on tuesday" that my friend Cathy does.  I think she may have stolen it from someone else, though, so this lessens my guilt...{heh-heh}

Hey, don't forget to enter my bloggy giveaway in the post below!  You have 'til Thursday at Midnight!

one

I have noticed that I am developing an unnatural dislike for drinking glasses.  (I know, you're thinking, "drinking glasses?" ...yes...that's the unnatural part.)  I don't know why, but when ever my son walks in the room with a glass of water with ice in it and I hear the ice rattling against the side I just get annoyed. Really, really annoyed.  Plastic cups, no problem...it's just the sound the ice makes in the glass.  Right.  I *did* say that it was unnatural.

two

There has to be an easier way to get the laundry from the dryer to the bed or the couch or wherever you're planning to leave fold it. Right?  I know, most of you probably use laundry baskets, but mine are currently all filled with other things...I'm organizing...really.  So in the situation where you have no laundry basket, there *must* be some way to get the laundry out of the dryer and to it's destination without socks and underwear trailing behind you on the floor.  Or maybe I should just clean out the laundry baskets.

three

My spell check and I do not get along *at all*.  It is constantly informing me that I am simply making up words or suggesting that I must've meant "gillian" instead of "kirigami".  And even though I love the color red, I do not like the red underlines it scatters all through out my writing, made up words or not.  hmmph.

four

I'm developing an unnatural affection for my bread machine.  I know this because yesterday when I plugged it in, instead of making the lovely little piercing beep that it usually does....nothing.  Lights didn't come on, no sound...I felt a momentary sense of panic....my homemade-bread-making-life flashed before my eyes...."ahh...bread machine...not working...store bought rolls...noooo.."  Turns out the little mini breaker on the plug had popped. I pushed the button and all was well.  Still...it's mildly disturbing that I felt the same sense of panic that I do in the grocery store when I turn around and don't immediately see my youngest child standing next to me. Well, not exactly the same...but it was close...and disturbing...

five

Bloglines makes my bloggy life sooooooo much easier.  If you do not have a bloglines account you must stop what you're doing and go here (open in a new window...please come back...you're only at number five of my scintillating ten thoughts you know) and sign up right now.  It's free and so wonderful! 

It creates a little button at the top and bottom of your screen.  Anytime you read a blog that you just fall in love with and want to know when the author updates you click on the top button and subscribe.

The button at the bottom of the screen is your "notifier".  Whenever any of your bloggies are updated a happy little orange dot appears and you click and read!  You don't even have to go directly to the blog,  you can read all your blogs in one place.  (Although you wouldn't want to miss the lovely...say...pink and red colors of your favorite blog which won't show up in the reader.)
   
six

The stats for my blog are very detailed.  It's a little creepy actually, I can see where visitors are from, what kind of computer they're using, their screen resolution etc.  Anyway, whenever I look at the details and see that one of my visitors is using a Mac I feel flattered for some reason.  I have this vision of them sitting cross-legged on the beautiful hardwood floor of some spacious loft apartment in New York, sipping a latte and thinking, "wow, she's kind of creative, she is worth reading on my über cool Mac."  I don't know why...Mac people...they are usually...all...hip and design-y and stuff.  So, you know, if you're reading this on a Mac...can I have your autograph?

seven

The squirrels that have been running around on my roof are making so much noise now that I think they *must* be building something.  I hope it's a Starbucks.

eight

It makes me so uncomfortable when the people on Amazing Race rip open their clues and then throw the paper strip on the ground. Every time they do it I just cringe.

Every. time. 

I mean, I know there are probably like a million crew members hanging around and picking up after them when they leave...it just bugs me. You are a *visitor* in a foreign country for goodness sakes!  Pick up your garbage!

I didn't realize how much it bothered me until this morning while watching Dora the Explorer with my little O.  Dora and Boots started pulling sticky tape off their shoes and I cringed thinking they were going to throw it on the ground and then go on with their adventure, but the wonderful artists had drawn a little green mesh trash can beside them and they threw the tape in it before moving on. Ahhhhhh...a sigh of relief.  Yes, that is what you are supposed to do with trash. 

I just don't like litter.

nine

Moonsand is magic. Really.  How does it stay wet like that when you leave it out all the time?

ten

My husband has this made up expression that he uses to get out of an awkward moment in a conversation.  It goes like this,

"I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'".   

It seems like it doesn't make sense and actually it really *doesn't* make sense, but it works surprisingly well.  Here's an example.

hubby: "So am I the only one actually putting the dishes *in* the dishwasher today?"

me: *raised eyebrow and awkward, annoyed silence*

hubby:  "I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'"

You see, you really can't come back from that.  What is the reply to that?  The conversation just sort of ends and he actually *has* said something that he said he didn't say.

I like it.  I've started using it on him. heh-heh

Well, that's it.  There's my first "ten on tuesday".  You know, to be honest, I did it because I thought it would be a quick way to do a short blog entry, but it really seems like I just wrote *ten short blog entries*. 

I really don't know if it's worth it.

I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'.

-----------------------------------------------
  "How great is the goodness
      you have stored up for those who fear you.
   You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
      blessing them before the watching world."
-Psalm 31:19 new living translation